Just 48 hours after a commuter was a Mumbai local train between Andheri and Borivali following a seemingly trivial altercation, another knife attack over a minor dispute has surfaced in the city.
This time, a 35-year-old office boy was allegedly stabbed in Mahim after accidentally bumping into a stranger, causing his mobile phone to fall to the ground.
The incident took place around 10.15 pm on Thursday on Senapati Bapat Marg near New India Bar in Mahim West. Based on the victim’s complaint, the Mahim police have registered an FIR against an unidentified accused for attempt to murder and other offences.
According to the police, the complainant, Naveen Subhash Prasanna (35), has been living with his family in Mahim West for nearly 25 years. He resides with his father, Subhash (55), mother, Parvati (52), sister, Pooja (30), and brother, Sachin (32). Naveen works as an office boy in the Lodha Building at Lower Parel.
As part of his daily routine, Naveen travels by train from Mahim to Lower Parel every morning and returns home on foot from Mahim railway station after finishing work around 10 pm.
On Thursday night, after arriving at Mahim , Naveen was walking home along Senapati Bapat Marg when, near Bata Shoe Mart opposite the station, he accidentally bumped into an unidentified man. The impact allegedly caused the stranger’s mobile phone to fall to the ground.
Naveen immediately apologised, but the man allegedly turned aggressive, claiming he had recently got the phone repaired and demanding compensation for the alleged damage. Despite Naveen explaining that the collision was accidental and that the phone had not been damaged, the argument continued.
“The unknown accused followed the victim to the vicinity of New India Bar, where he confronted him again. He threatened to beat him if he did not pay. When the victim tried to explain, the accused and stabbed him on the left side of his abdomen,” a police official said, adding that the accused fled the scene immediately after the attack.
Bleeding from the injury, Naveen first returned home before being rushed to Sion Hospital by his brother Sachin and cousin, where he received medical treatment. He later approached the Mahim police and lodged a complaint in the early hours of Friday.
The accused has been described as a man aged between 25 and 30 years, around 5 feet 8 inches tall, slim-built, fair-complexioned, with long black hair and an oval face. He was allegedly wearing a white full-sleeved T-shirt, black jeans and slippers at the time of the incident, police said.
The Mahim police have registered an FIR under Sections 109(1) (attempt to murder), 352 and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused remains unidentified, and efforts are underway to trace him.